Socotra is the most isolated non-volcanic landmass on Earth. That means that unlike Hawaii, whose islands were created by volcanos, Socotra used to be a part of the Arabian Peninsula, a long long time ago.
This isolation means the plant and animal life have had millions of years to evolve in their own unique ways. A third of the plant species here are found nowhere else on Earth. Among the most striking and usual plants found on the island is the dragon tree, a Dr. Seuss-like umbrella tree that bleeds red sap.
Socotra’s a nice spot for ecotourism. UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 2008. It used to be you could only get to the island by boat, and service was once a week. But now there are daily flights from Sana’a on the mainland.
